The Count of Mont Amis ...

Works for me.

"There is a love, of sorts: it is love of self, love for oneself. That narcissist idolatry that leads them to betray others, that leads them to abuse of trust. " - Pope Francis


At my last confession Fr. told me I should start examining myself as to who is Lord of my life.

Could the Internet be?  Do I spend too much time on it?  Does it command all of my 'devotion'?  Is the lap top a sort of 'home altar'?  (I'm glad I don't have a tablet or smart phone!)

I always think of the Gospel passage: "How can you believe when you accept praise from one another?"

Contemplative saints, such as Margaret Mary and Therese always cautioned against self-love, seeking affirmation and praise ...  Which brings me to the count ... the follower's app.

Somehow, I got sucked into watching it and checking stats.  I used to not notice - yet the wider my territorial spread, the more I began to pat attention.  (I'm on Tumbler now as well as Etsy.  The etsy thing is more like an estate sale than anything - as well as another place to get rid of my art.)

"Never take a man for your example no matter how holy he may be, for the devil will show you his faults." - John of the Cross


The followers app is weird though.  It fluctuates so much - which is why I never really valued it so much.  Although, since last weekend I noted one app went from 291 to 267.  And then, and then ... I started wondering why.  Is it something I said?  (LOL!)

You will soon be deceived if you only regard the outward show of men. - Imitation, Bk. II, Chp. 7:3


The thing is - over the years it goes up and down and some people I know have used it to punish, or not - they just decided they don't like me.  But it's just a stupid app.  I wonder if it means anything at all except for people who live online, in their virtual world, astral projecting themselves around the digital continent?

John of the Cross, quoting Isaiah wrote, "He who praises you deceives you."


It's funny.  Going through archives, I've been deleting stupid posts or condemnatory, gossipy posts - especially posts written about controversial issues or persons wherein I weigh in as a meddlesome old busybody - pretty much to get hits and up my stats.  (See what a hypocrite I am?)  Interestingly, I came across comments by former friend-followers praising me for saying this or that, or commending me for something I said.  See how fickle Internet, online friendships can be?  We must laugh or end up like

Problems arise when you become too concerned about it...

"It is quite foolish to hope you will reach your dreams 

while you are hanging onto people intent on pulling you down."

— Dodinsky (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

Song for this post here.

Acting like busy-bodies ...

The Righteous Man Surprised by the Devil

Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Minding the business of others. - 2 Thessalonians 3

That verse is taken from tomorrow's second reading at Mass. 

In much speaking there is no escape from sin.

The ninth degree of humility
is that a monk restrain his tongue and keep silence,
not speaking until he is questioned.
For the Scripture shows
that "in much speaking there is no escape from sin" (Prov. 10:19)
and that "the talkative man is not stable on the earth" (Ps. 139[140]:12[11]). - Rule of St. Benedict

Elsewhere in Scripture the Holy Spirit says, "I will correct you by drawing your sins up before your eyes."  When I expose the sins of others, shouldn't my own be exposed as well?  How can I point out the sins of others when I have sinned so grievously myself?

Who? ... Am I? ... To judge?

Our Lord told St. Margaret of Cortona:

My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate.